Latch assembly for a vehicle seat

ABSTRACT

A seat assembly for use with a vehicle having a retaining member includes a support member and a latch member moveably coupled to the support member. The latch member is moveable between a latched position, for securing the support member to the retaining member, and an unlatched position for allowing the support member to move with respect to the retaining member. The seat assembly further includes a cam arrangement associated with the support member and including a cam that cooperates with the latch member to secure the latch member in the latched position. The cam arrangement also includes a movement inhibitor that is configured to extend into a sufficiently large gap, if present, between the latch member and the cam when the latch member is in the latched position to thereby inhibit relative motion of the cam and the latch member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a latch assembly for a vehicle seat.

2. Background Art

Latch assemblies may used to secure a vehicle seat to a support structure, such as a vehicle floor. U.S. Pat. No. 6,213,525, for example, discloses a lever action floor latch actuation mechanism for removably securing a seat to a pair of front and rear strikers on the floor of a vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Under the invention, a new seat assembly is provided for use with a vehicle having a retaining member. In one embodiment, the seat assembly includes a support member and a latch member moveably coupled to the support member. The latch member is moveable between a latched position, for securing the support member to the retaining member, and an unlatched position for allowing the support member to move with respect to the retaining member. The seat assembly further includes a cam arrangement associated with the support member and including a cam that cooperates with the latch member to secure the latch member in the latched position. The cam arrangement also includes a movement inhibitor that is configured to extend into a sufficiently large gap, if present, between the latch member and the cam when the latch member is in the latched position to thereby inhibit relative motion of the cam and the latch member.

In another embodiment, the seat assembly includes a support member, and a latch member pivotally coupled to the support member. The latch member is moveable between a latched position, for securing the support member to the retaining member, and an unlatched position for allowing the support member to move with respect to the retaining member. The seat assembly further includes a cam arrangement pivotally coupled to the support member and being engageable with the latch member to secure the latch member in the latched position. The cam arrangement is also configured to allow the latch member to move toward the unlatched position when the cam arrangement is pivoted with respect to the support member. The cam arrangement includes a cam and a movement inhibitor having a flexible leg that is moveable with respect to the cam. The leg has an engagement portion that is configured to extend into a sufficient gap, if present, between the latch member and the cam when the latch member is in the latched position to thereby inhibit relative motion of the cam and the latch member. The engagement portion is further configured to be displaced with respect to the cam if the gap is not present when the latch member is in the latched position.

Further under the invention, a latch assembly is provided for use with a seat assembly for securing the seat assembly to a retaining member of a vehicle. The latch assembly includes a support member that is configured to be mounted to the seat assembly, and a latch member moveably coupled to the support member. The latch member is moveable between a latched position, for securing the support member to the retaining member, and an unlatched position for allowing the support member to move with respect to the retaining member. The latch assembly further includes a cam arrangement associated with the support member and being engageable with the latch member to secure the latch member in the latched position. The cam arrangement includes a cam and an movement inhibitor associated with the cam. Moreover, at least one time when the latch member is in the latched position, the latch member and the cam are configured to achieve a spaced apart relationship in which a sufficiently large gap for at least partially receiving the movement inhibitor is defined between the latch member and the cam, and wherein the movement inhibitor is configured to extend into the gap to inhibit relative motion of the cam and the latch member.

While exemplary embodiments in accordance with the invention are illustrated and disclosed, such disclosure should not be construed to limit the claims. It is anticipated that various modifications and alternative designs may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side view of a seat assembly including a latch assembly, according to the invention, for securing the seat assembly to a retaining member mounted in a vehicle, wherein the latch assembly includes a latch member, a cam arrangement having a cam and a movement inhibitor associated with the cam, and a resilient bumper connected between the latch member and the cam arrangement, and wherein the latch member is shown in a latched position, the cam is shown in a first cam position, and the movement inhibitor is shown extending between the latch member and the cam;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side view of the seat assembly showing the latch member in an unlatched position and the cam in a second cam position;

FIG. 3 is a enlarged side view of the latch assembly showing the latch member in the latched position and the cam in the first cam position, wherein the resilient bumper has been removed to show details of the latch member and cam;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view of the latch assembly showing the latch member in the latched position, the cam in the first cam position and the movement inhibitor displaced by the latch member, wherein the resilient bumper has been removed for clarity purposes;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view of the latch assembly showing the latch member in the latched position, the cam in the first cam position and the movement inhibitor in an intermediate position with respect to the cam, wherein the resilient bumper has been removed for clarity purposes; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the movement inhibitor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is merely exemplary in nature, and is in no way intended to limit the invention or its application or uses.

FIG. 1 shows a seat assembly 10, according to the invention, for use with a motor vehicle 12 having a retaining member 14, such as a striker, mounted on a vehicle support structure 16, such as a floor of the vehicle 12. The seat assembly 10 includes a support member 17, a latch assembly 18 associated with the support member 17, and an actuation mechanism 19 coupled to the latch assembly 18.

The support member 17 may have any suitable configuration for supporting the latch assembly 18. For example, the support member 17 may be configured as a seat bottom frame 20 or riser 21, or a component, such as a latch plate or bracket 22, attached to the seat bottom frame 20 or riser 21. In the embodiment shown in the Figures, the support member 17 is configured as a bracket 22 that is attached to the riser 21 in any suitable manner, such as with fasteners. Furthermore, the bracket 22 may be considered part of the latch assembly 18.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the latch assembly 18 includes a latch member 24 and a cam arrangement 26 that are each moveably coupled to the bracket 22. For example, the latch member 24 may be pivotally coupled to the bracket 22 with a first fastener 28, such as pin, and the cam arrangement 26 may be pivotally coupled to the bracket 22 with a second fastener 30, such as a pin.

The latch member 24 is moveable between a latched position (shown in FIG. 1), for securing the seat assembly 10 to the retaining member 14, and an unlatched position (shown in FIG. 2), for allowing the seat assembly 10 to move with respect to the retaining member 14. Moreover, the latch member 24 may have any suitable configuration for securing the seat assembly 10 to the retaining member 14. For example, the latch member 24 may be formed as a hook having a notch 32 that is engageable with the retaining member 14 when the latch member 24 is in the latched position.

In addition, the latch member 24 may comprise any suitable material and may be made in any suitable manner. For example, the latch member 24 may be made of molded powdered metal, stamped metal, or compression molded rigid plastic.

The cam arrangement 26 is configured to secure the latch member 24 in the latched position, and includes a cam 34 and a movement inhibitor 36, such as a wedging feature, anti-rattle device and/or anti-chuck device, associated with the cam 34. The cam 34 is moveable between a first cam position (shown in FIG. 1), for securing the latch member 24 in the latched position, and a second cam position (shown in FIG. 2), for allowing the latch member 24 to move to the unlatched position.

Referring to FIG. 3, the movement inhibitor 36 is configured to extend into a sufficiently large gap 38, if present, between the latch member 24 and cam 34 when the latch member 24 is in the latched position and the cam 34 is in the first cam position, to thereby inhibit relative motion of the cam 34 and the latch member 24. The gap 38 may be designed into the latch assembly 18 to account for manufacturing tolerances and/or interface tolerances between the latch assembly 18 and the retaining member 14, for example. As another example, the gap 38 may be the result of manufacturing tolerances and/or repeated use of the latch assembly 18.

If, however, the latch member 24 and cam 34 are sufficiently close together when the latch member 24 is in the latched position and the cam 34 is in the first cam position, such that a sufficient gap for receiving the movement inhibitor 36 is not present, the movement inhibitor 36 may be prevented from extending between the latch member 24 and cam 34. In such a case, the movement inhibitor 36 is configured to move with respect to the cam 34 as the cam 34 moves toward the first cam position.

For example, referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the movement inhibitor 36 may include a main body 40 that is fixed with respect to the cam 34, and a flexible leg 42 that is integrally formed with the main body 40 and moveable with respect to the main body 40 and the cam 34. Furthermore, the leg 42 may include an insertion portion or engagement portion 44 that is configured to extend into the gap 38, if present, when the latch member 24 is in the latched position and the cam 34 is in the first cam position. If the gap 38 is not present, however, the leg 42 is configured to move upon engagement with the latch member 24 as the cam 34 moves toward the first cam position. More specifically, the leg 42 may be displaced from shoulder 45 of cam 34 as the cam 34 moves to the first cam position.

The engagement portion 44 may also be tapered to allow at least a part of the engagement portion 44 to extend between the latch member 24 and the cam 34 when the latch member 24 is in the latched position and the cam 34 is in the first cam position. Thus, the engagement portion 44 may effectively inhibit relative movement of the latch member 24 and cam 34 over a range of sizes of gap 38. Furthermore, if gap 38 is not sufficiently large to receive the thickest section or part of engagement portion 44, the leg 42 may be displaced to an intermediate position with respect to the cam 34, as shown in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the cam arrangement 26 may also include a spring member 46, such as a leaf spring, for urging the engagement portion 44 toward the latch member 24 and into the gap 38. For example, the spring member 46 may have one end connected to the main body 40 of the movement inhibitor 36, and an opposite free end engaged with the leg 42 of the movement inhibitor 36. Alternatively, the leg 42 may be provided with sufficient resilience, such that spring member 46 is not needed.

The cam arrangement 26 may comprise any suitable material and may be made in any suitable manner. For example, the cam 34 may be formed of molded powdered metal or stamped metal, and the movement inhibitor 36 may be made of injection or compression molded plastic, or stamped metal, such as spring steel. As another example, the cam 34 and movement inhibitor 36 may be integrally formed as a single piece.

Furthermore, if formed as separate components, the movement inhibitor 36 may be connected to the cam 34 in any suitable manner. For example, the second fastener 30 may be used to connect the movement inhibitor 36 to the cam 34. In addition, referring to FIG. 6, the movement inhibitor 36 may include an engagement feature 47, such as a pin, that is engageable with an engagement feature (not shown), such as an aperture, of the cam 34 to inhibit rotation of the main body 40 with respect to the cam 34.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the latch assembly 18 may also include a spring member 48 that is connected to the latch member 24 and cam 34. Referring to FIG. 1, the spring member 48 may urge the cam 34 toward the first cam position when the latch member 24 moves toward the latched position. Furthermore, referring to FIG. 2, the spring member 48 may urge the latch member 24 toward the unlatched position when the cam 34 is moved toward the second cam position.

Referring to FIG. 1, the latch assembly 18 may also include a resilient member, such as a resilient rubber bumper 49, for engaging the retaining member 14 when the seat assembly 10 is secured to the retaining member 14. The bumper 49 may be connected to the first and second fasteners 28 and 30, respectively, by a bumper bracket or housing 50, for example, such that the bumper 49 extends above the retaining member 14 when the seat assembly 10 is secured to the retaining member 14. With such a configuration, the bumper 49 may engage a top portion of the retaining member 14, and the latch member 24 may engage a bottom portion of the retaining member 14 when the seat assembly 10 is secured to the retaining member 14.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the actuation mechanism 19 is configured to move the cam 34 from the first cam position to the second cam position to thereby allow the latch member 24 to move from the latched position to the unlatched position. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the actuation mechanism 19 includes a cable 51 connected to the cam 34, and an actuation member 52, such as a lever or strap, disposed proximate the seat frame 20 for pulling the cable 50.

Alternatively, the actuation mechanism 19 may have any suitable configuration for moving the cam 34. For example, the actuation mechanism 19 may include a lever connected directly to the cam 34.

Referring to FIGS. 1-5, operation of the seat assembly 10 will now be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 1, the latch assembly 18 may be used to secure the seat assembly 10 to the retaining member 14. When it is desired to remove the seat assembly 10 from the retaining member 14, the actuation member 52 may be actuated to cause the cam 34 to pivot from the first cam position (shown in FIG. 1) to the second cam position (shown in FIG. 2), thereby allowing the latch member 24 to move from the latched position (shown in FIG. 1) to the unlatched position (shown in FIG. 2). As mentioned above, the spring member 48 may urge the latch member 24 toward the unlatched position.

When the latch member 24 is in the unlatched position, the seat assembly 10 may be moved with respect to the retaining member 14. For example, the seat assembly 10 may be pivoted forward about pivot point 53, shown in FIG. 1.

When it is desired to secure the seat assembly 10 to the retaining member 14, the seat assembly 10 may be moved toward the retaining member 14 so that an edge 54 of the latch member 24 engages the retaining member 14, thereby causing the latch member 24 to pivot from the unlatched position (shown in FIG. 2) to the latched position (shown in FIGS. 1 and 3-5). As mentioned above, the spring member 48 may cause the cam 34 to pivot from the second cam position to the first cam position when the latch member 24 pivots from the unlatched position to the latched position.

If the latch member 24 and cam 34 achieve a first or spaced apart relationship when the latch member 24 is in the latched position and the cam 34 is in the first cam position, such that gap 38 exists, then engagement portion 44 of the movement inhibitor 36 will extend into the gap 38, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5. As a result, the movement inhibitor 36 may inhibit or prevent relative motion of the latch member 24 and cam 34, thereby reducing or eliminating rattle and/or chuck.

Furthermore, referring to FIG. 5, if the gap 38 is only large enough to receive part of the engagement portion 44, then the engagement portion 44 may move with respect to the cam 34 as the cam 34 moves toward the first cam position. This may occur, for example, if the engagement portion 44 is tapered, but the gap 38 is not large enough to receive the thickest section of the engagement portion 44.

If, on the other hand, the latch member 24 and cam 34 achieve a second or alternative relationship in which the latch member 24 and the cam 34 are spaced closer together than in the spaced apart relationship, such as shown in FIG. 4, then the engagement portion 44 is configured to be sufficiently displaced with respect to the cam 34, such that the engagement portion 44 does not extend between the latch member 24 and the cam 34 when the latch member 24 is in the latched position and the cam 34 is in the first cam position. In this alternative relationship, the space between the latch member 24 and cam 34 may sufficiently small, or non-existent, such that rattle and/or chuck is effectively controlled.

During operation of the seat assembly 10, there may be times when the latch member 24 and cam 34 achieve the spaced apart relationship, such as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5, and other times when the latch member 24 and cam 34 achieve the alternative relationship, shown in FIG. 4. Furthermore, during operation of the seat assembly 10, the latch member 24 and cam 34 may only achieve one of the above relationships. Advantageously, the cam arrangement 26 can effectively function with any such relationships.

Moreover, the movement inhibitor 36 may function as a spacer member that spaces the cam 34 away from the bumper housing 50 and/or an outer plate or bracket (not shown) disposed between the cam 34 and the bumper housing 50 to facilitate movement of the cam 34. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 6, for example, the main body 40 of the movement inhibitor may include a flange 56 that spaces the cam 34 away from the bumper housing 50 and/or outer bracket (not shown).

While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A seat assembly for use with a vehicle having a retaining member, the seat assembly comprising: a support member; a latch member moveably coupled to the support member, the latch member being moveable between a latched position, for securing the support member to the retaining member, and an unlatched position for allowing the support member to move with respect to the retaining member; and a cam arrangement associated with the support member and including a cam that cooperates with the latch member to secure the latch member in the latched position, the cam arrangement further including a movement inhibitor that is configured to extend into a sufficiently large gap, if present, between the latch member and the cam when the latch member is in the latched position to thereby inhibit relative motion of the cam and the latch member.
 2. The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the movement inhibitor includes an engagement portion that is moveable with respect to the cam, and the engagement portion is configured to extend into the gap, if present, when the latch member is in the latched position.
 3. The seat assembly of claim 2 wherein the engagement portion is configured to be displaced with respect to the cam depending on size of the gap, if present, when the latch member is in the latched position.
 4. The seat assembly of claim 2 wherein the engagement portion is configured to be displaced with respect to the cam if the gap is not present when the latch member is in the latched position.
 5. The seat assembly of claim 2 wherein the latch member is configured to displace the engagement portion if the gap is not present when the latch member is in the latched position.
 6. The seat assembly of claim 2 wherein the engagement portion is tapered.
 7. The seat assembly of claim 2 wherein the movement inhibitor includes a main body that is fixed with respect to the cam, and a flexible leg extending from the main body, the flexible leg including the engagement portion.
 8. The seat assembly of 2 wherein the cam arrangement further includes a spring member for urging the engagement portion toward the latch member when the latch member is in the latched position.
 9. The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the cam is moveable between first and second cam positions, the cam being in the first cam position when the latch member is in the latched position, and the cam being in the second cam position when the latch member is in the unlatched position, and wherein the movement inhibitor includes an engagement portion that is moveable with respect to the cam, the engagement portion being configured to extend into the gap, if present, when the cam is in the first cam position, and the engagement portion further being configured to move with respect to the cam if the gap is not present when the cam moves from the second cam position toward the first cam position.
 10. The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the latch member is pivotally coupled to the support member.
 11. The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the cam arrangement is pivotally coupled to the support member.
 12. The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the cam and the movement inhibitor are formed as separate pieces that are joined together.
 13. The seat assembly of claim 1 wherein the cam and the movement inhibitor are formed as a single piece.
 14. A seat assembly for use with a vehicle having a retaining member, the seat assembly comprising: a support member; a latch member pivotally coupled to the support member, the latch member being moveable between a latched position, for securing the support member to the retaining member, and an unlatched position for allowing the support member to move with respect to the retaining member; and a cam arrangement pivotally coupled to the support member and being engageable with the latch member to secure the latch member in the latched position, the cam arrangement further being configured to allow the latch member to move toward the unlatched position when the cam arrangement is pivoted with respect to the support member, the cam arrangement including a cam and a movement inhibitor having a flexible leg that is moveable with respect to the cam, the leg including an engagement portion that is configured to extend into a sufficient gap, if present, between the latch member and the cam when the latch member is in the latched position to thereby inhibit relative motion of the cam and the latch member, the engagement portion further being configured to be displaced with respect to the cam if the gap is not present when the latch member is in the latched position.
 15. A latch assembly for use with a seat assembly for securing the seat assembly to a retaining member of a vehicle, the latch assembly comprising: a support member that is configured to be mounted to the seat assembly; a latch member moveably coupled to the support member, the latch member being moveable between a latched position, for securing the support member to the retaining member, and an unlatched position for allowing the support member to move with respect to the retaining member; and a cam arrangement associated with the support member and being engageable with the latch member to secure the latch member in the latched position, the cam arrangement including a cam and an movement inhibitor associated with the cam; wherein at least one time when the latch member is in the latched position, the latch member and the cam are configured to achieve a spaced apart relationship in which a sufficiently large gap for at least partially receiving the movement inhibitor is defined between the latch member and the cam, and wherein the movement inhibitor is configured to extend into the gap to inhibit relative motion of the cam and the latch member.
 16. The latch assembly of claim 15 wherein at least another time when the latch member is in the latched position, the latch member and the cam are configured to achieve an additional relationship in which the latch member and the cam are spaced closer together than in the spaced apart relationship, and wherein the movement inhibitor is configured to be displaced with respect to the cam.
 17. The latch assembly of claim 15 wherein the movement inhibitor includes an engagement portion that is moveable with respect to the cam, and the engagement portion is configured to extend into the gap.
 18. The latch assembly of claim 17 wherein the engagement portion is tapered.
 19. The latch assembly of claim 17 wherein the movement inhibitor includes a main body that is fixed with respect to the cam, and a flexible leg extending from the main body, the flexible leg including the engagement portion.
 20. The latch assembly of 17 wherein the cam arrangement further includes a spring member for urging the engagement portion toward the latch member when the latch member is in the latched position. 